Current AffairsVoskovec and Werich: a fruitful cooperation that continued across the Atlantic

In the 1920s and 30s the actors Jiri Voskovec and Jan Werich became
legendary for their bitingly satirical songs that parodied the politics of
the time in the tense years leading up to the war. Their "Osvobozene
divadlo" - or "Liberated Theatre" - is remembered and loved
to this day. During the wartime occupation the two men escaped to America,
but then their careers took very different directions. Werich returned
home, and took roles in several well-known films of the 50s and 60s, while
Voskovec decided to stay in the States. Against the odds and despite never
shaking off his Czech accent he had a successful Hollywood career.
Smuggling their letters past the censors, the two men continued to write
to one another across the Iron Curtain, and in a way this correspondence
was a continuation of their fruitful earlier literary cooperation. Now,
for the first time, some of the letters have just been published.

In the 1920s and 30s the actors Jiri Voskovec and Jan Werich became
legendary for their bitingly satirical songs that parodied the politics of
the time in the tense years leading up to the war. Their "Osvobozene
divadlo" - or "Liberated Theatre" - is remembered and loved
to this day. During the wartime occupation the two men escaped to America,
but then their careers took very different directions. Werich returned
home, and took roles in several well-known films of the 50s and 60s, while
Voskovec decided to stay in the States. Against the odds and despite never
shaking off his Czech accent he had a successful Hollywood career.
Smuggling their letters past the censors, the two men continued to write
to one another across the Iron Curtain, and in a way this correspondence
was a continuation of their fruitful earlier literary cooperation. Now,
for the first time, some of the letters have just been published, thanks
to the initiative of the Czech-American art collector and philanthropist,
Meda Mladkova, who told Radio Prague more about the letters.

"Voskovec's widow, Christine, because we were such good friends, and
because she has total confidence in me, gave me copyright.

"They talk in the letters about Shakespeare, about the Czech poets.
For me it was a great surprise to feel the extraordinary education of
these two people. But the letters are also very vulgar, with vulgar
language on every page - three or four times! Yet they evidently wanted
the letters to be published one day. That is clear. They pronounced that
the letters should be kept. So I think the public will be fascinated.

"Werich described meeting important people here in Prague, and tells
Voskovec about them. Voskovec does the same about America. You see,
Voskovec was quite an important actor. He could never have the first role
because of his accent, but he played with Elizabeth Taylor and with
Burton."

The first of three volumes of the Voskovec and Werich letters between 1945
and 1962, was published on 13th February.